Device for use in playing pool or billiards.



W. H. HARRISON. s IN PLAYING POOL 0R BILLIARDS.

DEVICE FOR U Patented Apr. 8, 1919.

M, ATTORN Y s I as rare.

DEVICE FOR USE IN PLAYING POOL 0R IBILLIARTDS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 8, 1919.

Application filed April 19, 1918. Serial No. 229,640. 7

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WVILLIAM HENRY HAR- RISON, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of city and county of New York, borough of Manhattan, State of New Yor r, have invented certain new and useful lmprovements in Devices for Use in Playing Pool or Billiards, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an auxiliary device for use in the playing of pool or billiards, and has for its principal'object the rovision of a device whereby the making 0 shot or strokes in which the one is hel such as mass shots,

substantially vertically, is facilitated. In making such shots it IS customary to hold and guide the lower end portion of the one by hand, this generally requiring the player to assume an aw ard osition, which is, objectionable not only be cause it is uncomfortable but also because it is apt to interfere with the accuracy ofthe shot. In accordance with my invention I obviate this difficulty by providing a device by which .the lower portion of the cue is held in position and guided so as to permit the cue to move in a substantially vertical direction into engagement with the ball, the player being left free to assume a more comfortable position than heretofore inthe'making of such shots. The facility of making such shots is thereby greatly increased.

Another object of my invention is to' provide an improve described which can be read'ly collapsed into compact form for transportation an readily set up from collapsed form into condition for use.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will appear more fully from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and illustrating two approved embodiments of'the invention.

In the drawing,

Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating the use of the preferred embodiment of my invention on a billiard table, only a portion of the table being shown; 1

Fig. 2 is aside elevation, partly in section, of the said embodiment of my. invention, some of the parts being shown in dotted lines in collapsed or folded positions;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the same;

Fig. at is a side elevation illustrating a modification of the invention applied to an device of the character ordinary bridge rest, only a portion of the handle of the bridge rest being shown; and

Fig. 5 is a rear view of the same. Referring to the drawings, and first more particularly to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the numeral 1 designates a fiat horizontal base adapts to rest upon the billiard table A as shown in Fig. 1. Extending upwardly from the base 1 from a point in proximity to the periphery thereof is a vertical standard or uprig carries atits upper end a flat horizontal member 8 formed with guides 45' either of which is adapted to holdthe lower portion of the one in pos'tion topermit the cue to move in a substantially1 vertical direction into engagement with t e billiard ball, as will appear from an inspection of Fig. 1, in which sented by'the characterfB and the balls are represented by the character C. The guides 4 may be made of any suitable shape for effectively retaining the lower end of the one in proper position, being preferably formed to extend entirely around the lower end portion of the one. By making the openings through the guides diamond shaped, as shown, the I one will be effectively held against lateral movement by adjacent sides of the opening when held to rest against said sides. The walls of the said openings are best curved conveXly in a vertical direction to facilitate the movement of the one through the guides when the cue is inclined to different angles and to minimize wear.

The member 3 be of sufficient height above the lower surface of the base 1 andthe guides i, a sufficient distance forwardly of the member 2 and the base 1 to ermit the guides L to be arranged over theball in; suitable position so that the guided one can be moved into engagement with the ball for ,making shots of the character in question. The guides & should be of suflicientsize to. permit free movement of the cue vertically or at a slight angle to the vertical. The normal height of the member 3 above the lower surface of the base may advantageously be made about twice the diameter of theordinary billiard ball, and the length of the inner sides of the guide "rings l may advantageously be made about three-sixteenths of an inch greater than the diameter 0 the portion of the one with which the rings co-act; but it is to be understood that other dimensions may be used, those specified being merely the one is repre for purpose of.

illustration. To increase the serviceability bottom or outer side of the base, as shown in of the invention 'byadapting it for use undotted lines in said figure. The member 3 der a greater number of, conditions the may be held in adjusted position in any standard 2 is desirably madeextensible suitable manner as by the thumb-screw that the guides 4 may" be adjustably and op- 7 constituting the pivot between the membersvo eratively positioned at different heights 2 and 3. From the foregoing, it will be above the base 1. As shown the said standreadily seen that by loosening the screw 10 ard is formed of two telescopically connectand removing:thumb-screw 8, the rest may ed parts rectangular in cross section to avoid 'be collapsed as shown in Fig. 2 with the relative rotation thereof, the outer part brace 7, bas 1, upright 2, and guide memeing connected to the base 1 and the inner ber 3 superposed. When thus collapsed the part 21 to the member 3. A set screw 22 device is very compact and may be readily adjacent the upper end of the, part 20 serves carried about in the pocket of the user. To

to hold the parts 20 and 21 in adjusted reset the same up it is merely necessary to lation to each other. The construction, a move the parts 1 and 2 to proper operative shown permits the elevation of member 3 ngul l tio curin the brace 7 to the to approximately twice its normal or lowest base 1 by means of the thumb-screw 8, liftheight above the base 1. The se 1. 18 ing the member 3 to operative position and sir-ably made in substantially triangular securing the same in such position by the form with the member2 arranged h thumb-screw 10. When desired the guide 8 tially at the apex of the triangle, this armember 3 may be elevated above thebase to rangement permitting the device to e in an extent greater than that shown by first some cases more readily positioned 1n operal o g t r w 22, wh h 13 again his tive relation'to the b o e Struck, the tened when the desired adjustment has been apexof the triangle ng adap d to eXtenel made. When the said parts are thus adj ust- 9c in the space between the two closely adjad th y f i id d vi viding a fir cent balls, as will be evident. guide for the cue. The member 7 serves With a view to making the device capable .not only to hold the partsl and2 in proper f being collapsed for a greater convenience angular relationship but also provides a 111 transportation, I CORRECT/the members 1 convenient handle for the, device and 2 for relative pivotal movement about The various parts referred to may be a horizontal axis 5 and I connect members made of any suitable material, the base 1,

2 and 3 for relative pivotal movement about upright 2 and guide mei' ber 3 being dea horizontal axis 6, these axes being so arsirably made of brass although they may be ranged that the member 3 may be folded made of wood, celluloid or other material. down flat upon one side ofthe upright 2 To increase the frictional hold of the dewhile the base member lvmav be folded flat vice upon the table and at the same time to on the opposite sid of the up ight as insure against the marring of the table, I

shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2. The memprov de the lower surface of the base 1 with ber 21s desirablv formedso that its lower a covering 11 of suitable material, such as 10 end engages the top of the member 1 to prevelvet or felt. The brace and handle memvcnt further angular movement of the said ber 7, as shown, is formed with a'body pormembers away from each other when they tion 12 secured upon a base member 14, the have assumed operative positions with rel tter member bein desirably made of spect to each other. I arious means may strong durablematerial, such as a strip of 1 be employed for holding the membersfl and sheet metal, which provides suitable extenin proper operative relationship, but I sions beyond the ends of the body member prefer to employ a brace such as that'shown 12 whereby the member 7 is hinged to pivot at 7, Wl1ichis pivoted, as shown at 8, be- 8 andadapted to be secured to the base 1. tween projections 9, extending rearwardly The body portion 12 may be of any suitable from the upright 2 at a position suitable material, such as wood, and may be secured to permit the members 1 and 2 to be folded to the base member 14 in any suitable maninto engagement with each 'other without ner, as by screws 15.

obstruction from the said projections. This In using the device it is'positioned upon brace is detachably secured at its lower end the table 111 a proper relation to the ball 2 to the base 1 desirably adjacent the rear to be struck, as shown in Fig. l, in which edge portion thereof as bv thumb-screw 8, position it may be conveniently held,if dewiich passes through the lower end portion sired, by grasping the handle 7 with one of the brace and is threaded into a bushing hand as-shown, the body of the player being 9 secured inthe said base." The'pivot 8 is left free so that be can readily and accu- 1 5 arranged ata suitable distance to the rear rately make the desired stroke with the of the upright 2 to permit the brace 7 when other hand. V disconnected from the base 1 and when the In Figs. 4 and 5 I have shown a modificabase 1 is in the dotted line position shown tion in which the upright 2 is adapted to be in Fig. 2, to move nto engagement with the detachably secured to an ordinary bridge 1 0 rest 15, as by an ordinary spring clamp, member, means projecting forwardly therethe member 2 having pivoted thereto, as at of for guiding the cue to permit movement 16, 16 a jaw 17 which is arranged to co-act thereof in a substantially vertical direction with the said member 2 to grip. opposite and a horizontal base supporting said up- 5 faces of the bridge rest. The jaw 17 is, as wardly extending member.

shown, held in operative position by spaced 6'. A device for use in playing pool and compression springs 18, interposed betweenbilliards, comprising an upwardly extending the member 2 and portions of the jaw 17 member, means projecting forwardly thereprojecting above the pivots 16, 16. The of for guiding the cue to permit movement lower edges of the members 2 and 17 are thereof in a substantially vertical direction 75 preferably beveled downwardly and outand a horizontal base supportingsaid upwardly, as shown at 19 and 20, so as to fawardly extending member, said base being cilitate the movement of the attachment adapted to rest on a billiard table and being into operative position downwardly over the provided at the bottom thereof with suitupper edge of the bridge rest. The form of able means to obtain a frictional hold on the 80 the invention shown in these figures has the table W h damaging he Sam member 3 which is provided with the 7. A device for use in playing pool and guides for the cue formed integrally with billiards, comprising an upwardly extending the member 2, the member 3 correspondmember, means projecting forwar ly thereof 20 ing in arrangement and shape with the corfor guiding the cue to permit movement 5 responding part 3 in Figs. 1, 2 and 3. The thereof in a substantially vertical direction, use of this device is similar to that shown in a horizontal base supporting said upwardly Figs. 1, 2 and 3 and will be evident from extending member, and a handle connecting the foregoing description. said upwardly extending member and base.

While I have shown only two embodi- 8. A collapsible device for use in playing 90 niente 01 my invention, the latter is suseepp 1 a d b liards, comprising a n rma 1v tible of a variety of modifications, and it is pwardly extending member provided with to be understood that I do not limit myself outwardly extehdlhg means ghlthhg t to the details herein shown and described c e for mo ement in a sn stant a y t ca except to the extent explicitly expressed i direction above and into engagement with a 95 any given claim. pool or billiard ball, a member supporting Having described my invention, what I saidhrst halhed h ahd brace t claim as new and desire to secure by Letters hohhhg Stud members 1h operatlve relatloh Patent is: at an angle to each other, said members and 1, A d i f use l i 1 d said brace being connected for relative move- 100 billiards, said device being adapted to rest meht Penhittmg the l r sp the devlceon a pool or billiard table, and having a A devlce Q 111 P 6 2, P an guide whereby the one may be moved in a hllhttrds, comPrlslhg ah hPW Y -i substantially vertical direction above and mg member, .lhftiths P l totwartuy 40 into engagement with a pool or billiard ball. thereof f g g h m te permit moveits 2. A devi fo u i h 1 d ment thereof in a substantially vert1cal d1 billiards, said device being adapted to rest refiltlon and a horlzqntal hash rp s on a pool or billiard table, and having a l p y extehthhf member, Stud Parts guide arranged to extend substantially more g cohhectefl relatlYe movement t than half way around the cue whereby the Perhht collapslhg devlfie that t one may be moved in a substantially vertical P t extend suhsttmtmhy the Same direction above and into engagement with a Tectlonpool or billiard ball. I 10. A device for use in playing pool and 3. A device for use in playing pool nd billiards, comprising an upwardly extend- 50 billiards, said device being adapted to rest ing member, means projecting forwardly on a pool or billiard table, and having a thereof for guiding the cue to permit moveguide arranged to extend entirely around men h reof in a substantially Vertical d}- i the cue and to guide the cue for movement rection, a horizontal base supporting sai in a substantially vertical direction above up ardly extendingmember, and a handle 55 and into engagement with a pool or billiard. connecting said upwardly xtending mem- 12o ball. her and base, said parts being connected for 4. A device for use in playing pool or relative movement to permit the collapsing billiards, said device being adapted to rest of the device so that sa d parts extend subon a pool or billiard table, and having a plustantially 1n the same direction.

60 rality of means, each arranged to guide the 11. A device for use in playing pool or cue for movement in a substantially vertical billiards, comprising a. base adapted to rest direction above and into engagement with a on a pool or billiard table and having sides pool or billiard ball. converging horizontally substantially to an 5. A device for use in playing pool and apex, an upright projecting from said base 65 billiards, compris1ng an upwardly extending adjacent the apex portion thereof, and a one in a substantially vertical direction above guide carried by said upright, said guide beor billiard ball, said ing arranged to guide the cue for movement land mto engagement Witha pool or billiard all. v

12. A device for use in the playing of pool or billiards comprising a, basev or support,

d In testimony whereof I have signed my an name to this specification.

WILLIAM HENRY HARRISON.

' Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

